Nathan Cross

Personal Finance Writer

Nathan Cross is a personal finance writer and certified financial educator based in Denver, Colorado. With eight years of experience covering budgeting, investing, credit building, and debt management, he has helped thousands of readers make smarter money decisions. Nathan reviews every guide against primary sources including IRS publications, SEC filings, and CFPB resources, and updates content quarterly to reflect rate changes and policy shifts. Before writing about finance full-time, he worked as a financial planning associate at a registered investment advisory firm.

Articles by Nathan Cross

Taxes and Insurance

How to File Taxes as a Freelancer for the First Time

Filing taxes as a freelancer requires Schedule C for business income, Schedule SE for the 15.3% self-employment tax,…

Sep 1, 2026

Taxes and Insurance

HSA vs. FSA: Which Tax-Advantaged Health Account to Pick

Choose an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan and want to invest for long-term medical costs.…

Sep 1, 2026

Saving

How Much Should You Save Each Month by Age and Income?

The right savings target depends on your age, income, and whether you carry debt. A 25-year-old earning $50,000…

Sep 1, 2026

Saving

Best Ways to Save Money and Earn Interest Safely

The safest way to earn interest on savings is a high-yield savings account insured by the FDIC, currently…

Sep 1, 2026

Credit and Debt

How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card or Loan

You can build credit without a credit card using credit builder loans, rent reporting services, authorized user status,…

Sep 1, 2026

Credit and Debt

Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Payoff Method Wins?

The debt avalanche method saves the most money by targeting the highest interest rate first. The debt snowball…

Sep 1, 2026

Investing

Index Funds vs. ETFs for Beginners: Which Should You Pick?

For most beginners, ETFs are the better choice. They have no minimum investment, charge lower expense ratios, and…

Sep 1, 2026

Budgeting

Sinking Fund Categories for Beginners: How to Set Them Up

A sinking fund is money you save in advance for a known future expense. Unlike an emergency fund,…

Sep 1, 2026

Investing

How to Start Investing With $100 a Month Step by Step

Investing $100 per month works best inside a Roth IRA at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard, buying a single…

Sep 1, 2026

Budgeting

How to Budget by Pay Schedule: Weekly, Biweekly, or Monthly

The best way to budget across any pay schedule is to list every monthly bill, divide each by…

Sep 1, 2026